A worker takes a lunch break Wednesday at the construction site of a new apartment complex at Willits Town Center. The apartments are being built at the intersection of Willits Lane and Valley Road.Scott Condon/The Aspen Times |

The Basalt town government staff and developer of Willits Town Center hammered out the guts of an agreement that will allow unconstructed commercial space to be converted into residences.

The Basalt Town Council approved the conceptual agreement Tuesday night, but members said they want more goodies for taxpayers. It will come back for a second look by the council on Feb. 13.

The highlight of the proposal allows Mariner Real Estate Management to build 74 more residential units, totaling 50,000 square feet at the mixed-use area anchored by Whole Foods Market.

The overall square footage of the complex for commercial and free-market residences will remain at 563,717 square feet, the agreement says. Mariner would build less commercial if it builds more residential.

Support Local Journalism

Mariner representative Tim Belinski said at a November meeting that Willits has about 70,000 square feet of constructed commercial space that hadn’t been rented at that time, so it doesn’t make sense to build more. Rapidly growing online retail sales are changing the demand for brick-and-mortar commercial space.

The agreement would also create a real estate transfer assessment on sales of most undeveloped property at the center. The town government would use revenues from the assessment for improvements at Willits. It would raise an estimated $1 million.

Council members credited the staff and developer for seeking compromises to resolve the issue. It is seen as a way to speed development of the last three blocks at Willits.

However, Councilor Auden Schendler said the change is giving a significant economic boost to the project, so he wants more for taxpayers in return. The commercial space wasn’t going to sell, he reasoned, so it was dead space for the developer. The residential space won’t have any problem selling, he said.

“For the economic increase for the project, we should get a little more,” Schendler said. “This is a gift and that’s great. I want you guys to do well.”

Other council members agreed the pot should be sweetened for the public somehow before the proposed agreement comes back to the board for the second reading in February.

The agreement was approved 7-0 on the first of the two required readings.

The agreement also includes a requirement that Mariner screens undeveloped areas with a six-foot cedar fence. That will include fencing along two undeveloped areas along Willits Lane.

Royal Laybourn, a business owner in the neighborhood south of Willits, said the screening of dirt piles, weed patches and construction material storage areas should have been required years ago.

Support Local Journalism

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.

Local Circulars

COVID-19 has disrupted our education system, how schools are meeting student needs, and what’s being put in place to address gaps in resources. Featuring Phil Qualman, superintendent of Eagle County Schools, and Jay Hamric, Director...

Laid off and not sure what to do next? View our informational webinar featuring unemployment and career development experts. Learn how to apply for unemployment benefits, how the CARES Act has changed those benefits, and...

Laid off and not sure what to do next? View our informational webinar featuring unemployment and career development experts. Learn how to apply for unemployment benefits, how the CARES Act has changed those benefits, and...